in the hagel case, look, it is important the question on policy and i know senator hagel was questioned on israel, on iran. i think that's legitimate, but some senators went as far as getting personal and not just personal but unsubstantiated charges on the floor of the senate in hearings. that's never happened. i think that's a function of a tea party that is still a major player within the republican party circles and i don't think the republican's strategy is to stop them. so that's unfortunate, and that's going to mean more problems for further cabinet nominees that the president still hasn't sent up and just this idea that bipartisanship is going to be hurt dramatically is probably going to continue, and that's terrible for the country. >> former governor bill richardson, great to talk to you always. thanks so much. >> thank you. thank you, chris. >> in the meantime venezuela's president returned home early today after more than two months of cancer treatment in cuba. nbc news has learned more details about his health and that they're expected to be released later today and then la